UK plans 20-year wait for refugees to settle permanently

The UK government is introducing major changes to its asylum system that will make refugees wait 20 years before they can settle permanently in the country. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce the new policy on Monday as part of efforts to reduce small boat crossings and limit the number of asylum claims.

Under the new rules, people who are granted asylum will no longer receive long-term protection. Instead, they will be allowed to stay in the UK only on temporary permits. Their refugee status will be reviewed regularly, and if their home country is later considered safe, they will be told to return.

Currently, refugees receive five years of protection and can then apply for indefinite leave to remain. Mahmood’s plan will cut this first period to two-and-a-half years. After that, their status will be checked again. While the initial stay is becoming shorter, the time needed to apply for permanent residence will increase sharply — from five years to 20 years.

Mahmood said that the new rules send a clear message: “Do not come to this country as an illegal migrant, do not get on a boat.” She said illegal migration is “tearing our country apart” and warned that the UK could become more divided if the issue is not fixed.

The government’s new approach is similar to Denmark’s strict asylum policy, where refugees usually receive temporary permits that last two years and must reapply when they expire. Denmark’s system is considered one of the toughest in Europe.

However, the UK’s plan is expected to face criticism from within the Labour Party. Some members argue the policy may be too harsh and may not address the real causes of irregular migration.

Other political parties and organisations have also reacted. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson said it was right for the government to look for solutions, but warned that Labour “shouldn’t kid itself” that these measures replace the need to process claims quickly.

Enver Solomon, head of the Refugee Council, called the policy “harsh and unnecessary.” He said it will not stop people who are fleeing torture, persecution, or war from seeking safety.